Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins talks about career at baseball banquet

Mixbag of Fergie for ya.

Even when there was a large crowd at Wrigley, Jenkins could hear the bullpen phone ring when he was pitching.

“From the mound to the bullpen along the left-field wall, with 35,000 people screaming, I could actually hear that phone ring,” said Jenkins, who had a 284-226 career record.

For Jenkins, that distinct sound meant it was time to bear down.

“When it rings, ‘The bullpen is not coming into my game,’ ” Jenkins said. “You step it up a notch.”

...On whether Fargo’s Roger Maris should be in the Hall of Fame: “I think before long, Roger will get that opportunity. It’s probably too long, too late, because he did what he did lots of years ago,” Jenkins said. “He should have been put in the Hall of Fame a long time ago. It’s too bad.”

On whether players who have been linked to performance-enhancing drugs should get into the Hall of Fame: “Personally, I would put none of them in,” Jenkins said. “You have to play honest. It should be an equal plane for everybody.”